Luke had another full day of both Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy...sessions in both the morning and the afternoon. His PT had Luke leaning back on her chest in a near upright sitting position while they played "Tony" checkers. He had to reach, reach, reach for the game pieces on the table in front of him, forcing him to sit more upright with each reach. As his back heals, he'll be able to sit more and more erect as each day passes.Luke had his first day of hospital Kindergarten with his hospital teacher, Miss Lisa. She has a one-room school right down the hall from Luke's room. He went to see her for 1/2 hour in the morning, and then again for a 1/2 hour after lunch. Luke had been looking forward to starting school here since the weekend and proudly brought his all-in-one journal/school notebook/guest book to class to work in. He misses his real teacher, Mrs. McRae and his classmates.
The St. Paul police department came with Santa and lots of toys to visit the kids here at Gillette. They gave Luke a police T-shirt, police badge and mini flashlight, and a wrapped toy. After having been a policeman for Halloween this last fall, you know Luke was in his element. In fact, when Luke was riding the bus to school this year, the bus aid, an older gentleman named Bubba, and Luke, would do "police work" all the way to school each day, looking for criminals. So.....Luke had to put on his new police t-shirt and badge from the St. Paul policemen immediately. They were so nice to him. He was beaming.
In the evening, we had a going away party for Luke's roommate Sam, who had a Rhizotomy in November. Another Rhizotomy patient here, Jack, and his Mom, hosted the party. (Both of these boys are going home this week. We have learned so much from them about what to expect towards the end or our stay here, in the short time we've known them.) We ate Jimmy John's sandwiches and watched an old Christmas movie from when I was a kid, "Santa Clause is Coming to Town". You may recall the song on the show, "Put one foot in front of the other....and soon you'll be walkin' out the door". I always used to sing that song to Luke when he was really little and learning to walk. I thought it was quite appropriate for the 3 little boys watching the show who are all relearning to walk.
These boys have been getting together in the hallway in the evenings to play spys. They really keep the nurses hopping.......or should I say "dodging" the nerf darts as they pass through the hallway. These boys are so cute, that the Doctors and nurses (of course on their way to do more important things) don't seem to mind retrieving the darts for these spy boys.
Luke will miss his roommate, Sam, a 5-year old who reminds me very much of Luke, actually. Both with glasses, curly hair and great language skills.....these two boys have had some amusing (for the Moms) talks bed to bed....two great conversationalists discussing spy gear, nerf guns, wheelchairs, nurses and Christmas wish lists. I think it will be a bit lonely without Sam and his Mom, Carlynn. We already have play date plans for this spring.
Wow, another busy day...
In the evening, we had a going away party for Luke's roommate Sam, who had a Rhizotomy in November. Another Rhizotomy patient here, Jack, and his Mom, hosted the party. (Both of these boys are going home this week. We have learned so much from them about what to expect towards the end or our stay here, in the short time we've known them.) We ate Jimmy John's sandwiches and watched an old Christmas movie from when I was a kid, "Santa Clause is Coming to Town". You may recall the song on the show, "Put one foot in front of the other....and soon you'll be walkin' out the door". I always used to sing that song to Luke when he was really little and learning to walk. I thought it was quite appropriate for the 3 little boys watching the show who are all relearning to walk.
These boys have been getting together in the hallway in the evenings to play spys. They really keep the nurses hopping.......or should I say "dodging" the nerf darts as they pass through the hallway. These boys are so cute, that the Doctors and nurses (of course on their way to do more important things) don't seem to mind retrieving the darts for these spy boys.
Luke will miss his roommate, Sam, a 5-year old who reminds me very much of Luke, actually. Both with glasses, curly hair and great language skills.....these two boys have had some amusing (for the Moms) talks bed to bed....two great conversationalists discussing spy gear, nerf guns, wheelchairs, nurses and Christmas wish lists. I think it will be a bit lonely without Sam and his Mom, Carlynn. We already have play date plans for this spring.Wow, another busy day...
